Passage Three
Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage.
　　For an increasing number of students at American universities, （31）Old is suddenly in. （35）The reason is obvious: the graying of America means jobs（全文主旨句）. Coupled with the aging of the baby-boom ( 生育高峰) generation, a longer life span means that the nation's elderly population is bound to expand significantly over the next 50 years. By 2050, 25 percent of all Americans will be older than 65, up from 14 percent in 1995. The change poses profound questions for government and society, of course. But（31、35）it also creates career opportunities in medicine and health professions and in law and business as well. "In addition to the doctors, we're going to need more sociologists, biologists, urban planners and specialized lawyers," says Professor Edward Schneider of the University of Southern California's (USC) School of（31）Gerontology (老年学). （注意本段中与“老”相关的词汇，old, graying, aging, elderly, Gerontology, 点明了本文主题。）

31. "… Old is suddenly in" (Line 1, Para. 1) most probably means"______".
[定位与替换] 本题有一定的难度。题干定位于原文第一段第一句，其大意为对越来越多的美国大学生而言，“老”突然变得in了，原因很显然：the graying of American means jobs美国的老年化意味着工作机会。另外，联系第一段第二句话中的the graying及末段提到的Margarite 改修gerontology (老年学)课程的例子可知，引文中Old指的就是老年学，由此可推断，in 有popular (受欢迎) 之意。故选 B) gerontology has suddenly become popular 老年学突然变得受欢迎了。

[干扰项分析] A) America has suddenly become a nation of old people 美国突然变成老人之国了，原文数据表明美国老年人数量增多，但仍只占少部分，不至于说美国是老人之国，故错误；C) more elderly professors are found on American campuses 美国校园出现越来越多的老年教授，文章未提到；D) American colleges have realized the need of enrolling older students美国大学已经意识到招收老年学生的必要性，文章也未提及。

35. It can be seen from the passage that the expansion of America's elderly population ________.
[定位与替换] 本题问美国老年人数量的增加将带来什么效应。这是一道主旨题，根据第一段中的the graying of American means jobs 和 it also creates career opportunities in medicine and health professions and in law and business as well （这也在医药、卫生行业以及法律、商业方面创造了工作机会）可见原文指出了许人将受益于美国社会的老龄化，所以选A) will provide good job opportunities in many areas 将给许多行业的人士带来好的工作机会。

[干扰项分析]　B) will impose an unbearable burden on society 将给社会施加不可忍受的负担，而文中只讲益处，故排除。C) may lead to nursing home abuse and age discrimination 将导致家庭虐待、年龄歧视，文中：Lawyers can specialize in “elder law”, which covers everything from trusts and estates to nursing home abuse and age discrimination.（律师可以专门做老年法律业务，包括信托、房地产、家庭虐待和年龄歧视），可见老年人口扩大化与家庭虐待和年龄歧视之间并非因果关系，而是作为如何有益于法律人士的证据，故排除；D) will create new fields of study in universities 将在大学里创造新的研究领域，而原文没提到老年学以及相关的知识是否是新的研究，故排除。

 

（32）Lawyers can specialize in "elder law," which covers everything from trusts and estates to nursing-home abuse and age discrimination (歧视).（33）Businessmen see huge opportunities in the elder market because the baby boomers, 74 million strong, are likely to be the wealthiest group of retirees in human history. "Any student who combines (34) an expert knowledge in gerontology with, say, an MBA or law degree will have a license to print money, "（同学们注意，文章中的引用处很可能考同义转述题）one professor says.

　Margarite Santos is a 21-year-old senior at USC. She began college as a biology major but found she was "really bored with bacteria." So she took a class in gerontology and discovered that she liked it. She says, "I did volunteer work in retirement homes and it was very satisfying."

 

32. With the aging of America, lawyers can benefit ______.
[定位与替换] 本题问随着美国老年化，律师如何受益。根据第二段第一句话“Lawyers can …age discrimination”可以概括出，律师可为老年人提供多种服务，故选B) from rendering special services to the elderly 从为老人提供各种特殊服务中受益

[干扰项分析] A) from the adoption of the "elder law" 从老年人法律中受益，文中未提及；C) by enriching their professional knowledge 丰富他们的专业知识，不够精确，应该是相关老年学的知识；D) by winning the trust of the elderly to promote their own interests 赢得老人的信任以谋取利益，与原文不符，原文中的trust是信托，而不是信任的意思，故排除。

 

33. Why can businessmen make money in the emerging elder market?
[定位与替换] 本题问为什么商人能在日益发展的老年人市场中赚到钱。由题干中的buisinessmen定为到第二段：Businessmen see huge opportunities in the elder market because the baby boomers, 74 million strong, are likely to be the wealthiest group of retirees in human history 商人在老年人市场上看到了巨大的机会，因为高达7400万人的生育高峰期出生的一代人可能是人类历史上最富有的一群退休者，暗示其消费能力，由此推断选C) The elderly possess an enormous purchasing power老年人具有相当强的购买力。

[干扰项分析] A) Retirees are more generous in spending money. 退休者花钱更慷慨，原文只提到消费能力，没讲消费态度；B) They can employ more gerontologists. 他们可以雇更多的老年学家；D) There are more elderly people working than before 现在比以前有更多的老年人在工作，这两项原文均未提到。

 

34. Who can make big money in the new century according to the passage?
[定位与替换] 本题问新世纪里谁能大挣金钱。由题干make big money 定位到末段的：an expert knowledge in gerontology with, say, an MBA or law degree will have a license to print money (= make big money)，意思是MBA 和法学专业的学生如果拥有老年学知识，将获得“印钞许可证”----这是一个夸张幽默的说法，意指能源源不断地挣到大钱；其必备条件是：专业精通；对老年学具有相当知识， 而D) Professionals with a good knowledge of gerontology 拥有大量的老年学知识的专家，就是这句话的语意替换。

[干扰项分析] A) Retirees who are business-minded拥有商业头脑的退休人员，不符合文章意思；B) The volunteer workers in retirement homes 在退休老人福利院工作的义务志愿者，不符合上面的条件；C) College graduates with an MBA or law degree拥有MBA 或法学专业的大学毕业生只符合了其中一个条件，不准确。

【重点单词】

gray v.（使某物)变成灰色

couple  vt. 连接，使成对 n..①一对，一双②两三（个），一些③夫妻，情侣

age v.变老，显老，见老

expand v.①扩大，扩张，扩展②膨胀

bound  a.①一定的，必然的②受约束的，有义务的③（for,to）准备到…去的，开往（或驶往）…的 vi.①跳跃②弹回，反跃 vt.成为…的界线，给…划界 n.①跳跃②[常pl.]界限，限制

[真题]Children are _____ to have some accidents as they grow up.

A)        obvious  B) indispensable  C) bound  D)  doubtless

[C][CET-6:1990,1]

[译文]在成长的过程中，孩子们肯定会遇到一些意想不到的事情。

profound  a.①深度的，深切的，深远的②知识渊博的，见解深刻的③深奥的

     [真题]Young people’s social environment has a ______ effect on their academic progress.

     A) gross    B) solid    C) complete    D)profound

[D][CET-6:1993,6]

[译文]年轻人生活的社会环境对他们的学业进步有深远的影响。

specialize  vi. (in)专门研究，专攻

cover vt. ①盖，覆盖，掩盖②范围为，占③行，行过（一段路）④包括，涉及，适用于⑤报道，采访⑥给…保险，负担支付⑦掩护 n. ①盖子，套子，封面②掩蔽（物），掩护(物)

trust vt. ①挤，推，插②戳，刺 vi. (at)戳，刺 n. ①戳，刺②要点，要旨③推力

estate n. ①（上有大片建筑物的）土地，住宅区②地产，财产，遗产③（在乡村的）大片私有土地，庄园，种植园

abuse n.①滥用，妄用②虐待，伤害③辱骂，诽谤 vt. ①滥用，妄用②虐待，伤害③辱骂，诽谤

     [真题]It has been revealed that some government leaders ______ their authority and position to get illegal profits for themselves.

A) employ   B) take  C) abuse  D)  overlook

[C][CET-4:1996,6]

[译文]据透露，一些政府领导滥用职权，非法谋利。

license n.①许可证，执照②许可，特许 vt. 给…发许可证，准许

senior a. ①资格较老的，地位较高的②年长的 n. ①较年长者②（中学或大学的）毕业班学生

volunteer n. ①志愿者②志愿兵 vt. ①自愿（做）②自愿提供 vi. 自愿，志愿

【必背词组】

形容词与名词搭配：

an increasing number of 越来越多的

elderly population 老年人口

specialized lawyer 专业律师

huge opportunity 巨大的机会

the elder market 老年市场

动词与介词搭配：

couple with 与…一起

specialize in 专攻

名词与名词搭配：

combine with 把…结合在一起

life span 寿命

career opportunity 就业机会

medicine and health profession 医药、健康行业

age discrimination 年龄歧视

a biology major 主修生物学

volunteer work 义务工

动词与副词搭配：

expand significantly 显著地增长

动词与名词搭配：

pose profound questions for 对…提出深刻的问题

take a class 学习

形容词和介词搭配：

bored with 对…厌烦

 

Passage Four
Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage.
    （36）The decline in moral standards-which has long concerned social analysts-has （36）at last captured the attention of average Americans. And Jean Bethke Elshtain, for one, is glad.

36. Professor Elshtain is pleased to see that Americans________.
[定位与替换] 本题问Professor Elshtain很高兴看到美国人在思想上发生着或发生了什么变化。由题干中的pleased定位到原文第一段的glad，而原文：The decline in moral standards….has at last captured the attention of average Americans（美国大众终于开始关注道德水平下降问题）中的decline 对应 D) 项中的lowering (下降之意)，另外，captured the attention of average Americans = Americans are awakening to，故选D) are awakening to the lowering of their moral standards 开始意识到道德标准的下降。

[干扰项分析] 原文第二段说new ideas will come forward （新观念将形成）说明新道德标准尚未形成，故A) have adapted to a new set of moral standards （已适应新的一套道德标准） 是不符合题意的；B) are longing for the return of the good old days（期待美好的旧日重返）也不符合题意；C) have realized the importance of material things 已经意识到物质的重要性，而原文第三段首句说物质主义和个人主义是最大障碍，导致了道德水准下降，绝非教授乐意看到的。
　　

The fact that ordinary citizens are now starting to think seriously about the nation's moral climate, says this ethics (伦理学) professor at the University of Chicago, is reason to hope that new ideas will come forward to improve it. (在本文中average Americans = ordinary citizens，it 指代 moral climate)
　　But the challenge is not to be underestimated. Materialism and individualism in American society are the biggest obstacles. "The thought that 'I'm in it for me' has become deeply rooted in the national consciousness," Ms. Elshtain says.

37. The moral decline of American society is caused mainly by         
[定位与替换] 本题问导致美国社会道德水平下降引起的主因，是推理判断题，文章第三、第四段讲美国人道德沦丧的原因，而其中第四段分析根本原因，最后依据作出总结：bonds have been weakened, replaced by a greater emphasis on self 当今社会人与人的联系被割断，人越来越关注自我；而B) the self-centeredness of individuals 个人的自我中心主义，为其同意替换。

[干扰项分析] A) its growing wealth 它的越来越增长的财富；C) underestimating the impact of social changes 低估了社会变化所造成的影响 这两项原文均未提到，故排除；D) the prejudice against women and minorities 对妇女和少数民族的偏见，文章提到此现象在当今社会得到改善，但不是原因，而是伴随现象。

　　Some of this can be attributed to the disintegration of（38）traditional communities, in which neighbors looked out for one another, she says. ( this 指代上面一段Materialism and individualism in American society) With today's greater mobility and with so many couples working, （37）those bonds have been weakened, replaced by a greater emphasis on self.

38. Which of the following characterizes the traditional communities?
[定位与替换] 本题问四个选项中哪一项是传统社区的特征。由题干traditional communities定为到第四段第一句：…traditional communities, in which neighbors looked out for one another，in which 是对前面的先行词traditional communities 作了补充说明，解释了其特点，即邻居之间相互关照，由此断定，传统社区的特点是B) Concern for one's neighbors 关心某人的邻居 (注意37、38题的相关性，由上一题的分析我们得知当今社会人与人的联系被割断，人越来越关注自我，这是过去和现在社区或者说人际关系的一种鲜明对比)。

[干扰项分析] A) Great mobility 极大的流动性，是指现在美国社会的特点；和D) Ever-weakening social bonds越发弱化的人际关系，这也是现代美国社会的特点，所以排除；而C) Emphasis on individual effort强调个人努力，文中无内容支持。

 

　　In a 1996 poll of Americans, loss of morality topped the list of the biggest problems facing the U.S. And Elshtain says the public is correct to sense that: Data show that Americans are struggling with problems （39）unheard of in the 1950s, such as classroom violence and a high rate of births to unmarried mothers.（such as 例证考点标志词）

39. In the 1950s, classroom violence        .
[定位与替换] 本题考查有关20世纪50年代教室暴力的相关信息。由题干定位到第五段的：…unheard of in the 1950’s, such as classroom violence…，此处classroom violence 出现在such as 之后，可见是作为前面抽象内容的实例，答案应该在前文关于problems处，即unheard of闻所未闻，故选 A) was something unheard of是没听说过的事。

[干扰项分析] B) was by no means a rare occurrence：by no means 决不，和 rare非常少，构成双重否定，意思是：决不是很少发生的，也就是常有的事，和文章意思表达相反；C) attracted a lot of public attention引起公众注意，既然文章说在50年代人们没有听说到课堂暴力，那么引起公众注意不符合逻辑，引起公众注意只是现在的状况；D) began to appear in analysts' data 开始出现于分析家的分析数据中，也与原文意思不符。

 

The desire for a higher moral standard is not a lament (挽歌) for some nonexistent "golden age," Elshtain says, nor is it a wishful ( 一厢情愿的 ) longing for a time that denied opportunities to women and minorities. Most people, in fact, favor the lessening of prejudice.
　　Moral decline will not （40）be reversed until people find ways to counter the materialism in society, she says. "Slowly, you recognize that the things that matter are those that can't be bought." （until 条件从句考点，she 指Elshtain）

40. According to Elshtain, the current moral decline may be reversed        
[定位与替换] 本题问根据Elshtain的说法，在什么条件下道德的沦丧才能得以扭转。由题干定位到原文最后一段首句：Moral decline will not be reversed until people find ways to counter the materialism in society… 除非能找到足以对抗功利主义的方法，道德的沦丧将是不可扭转的。not…until 只有。。。才，表条件状语，指出道德水平下降得以扭转的条件，即消除物质主义的影响；D) if less emphasis is laid on material things 少强调一点物质条件，为原文条件的意义替换。

[干扰项分析]　A) if people can return to the "golden age" 如果人们返回到“黄金时代”，而定位到原文，所谓的黄金时代是不存在的nonexistent “golden age”，所以错误；B) when women and men enjoy equal rights 当男女享有平等权利，关于男女平等，原文倒数第二段否认道德水平等同于男女平等，所以错误；C) when people rid themselves of prejudice 当人们消除偏见 而该段末句表明现在大多数人反对歧视，即C)所提的条件，可见道德水准下滑仍是不争的事实，故也不对。

 

【重点单词】

decline n.下降，减少，衰退 vi. ①下降，减少②衰退，衰落③谢绝，拒绝 vt.谢绝，拒绝

[真题]Last year, the crime rate in Chicago has sharply _______.

A)      declined  B) lessened  C)  descended  D) slipped

[A][CET-6:1997,6]

[译文]去年，芝加哥的犯罪率大幅度下降。

[真题]Cotton production has been _____ the decline these years.

A) down     B) on    C) at   D) under

[B][CET-6:1996,6]

[译文]这些棉花的产量下降了。

[真题]In addition to the rising birthrate and immigration, the ______　death rate contributed to the population growth.

A)        declining  B)  inclining  C) descending  D) increasing

[A][CET-6:2003,6]

[译文]出生率和移民量上升加上死亡率下降，造成了人口的增长。

moral a.道德（上）的，有道德的 n.①[pl.]道德，品行，道德规范②寓意

concern  n关切的事，关心的事②关心，担心③关系，关联④公司，企业 vt. ①涉及，有关于②使关心，使担心

[真题]The story that follows ______ two famous characters of the Rocky Mountain gold rush day.

A)      concerns  B) states  C)  proclaims  D) relates

[A][CET-6:1990,1]

[译文]接下来的这个故事是关于在落基山脉淘金潮中两个著名人物的。

capture  v. ①俘虏，捕获②获得，占领  n.俘虏，捕获

underestimate vt.低估，对…估计不足 n.估计不足，低估

individualism n.  个人主义，我行我素

obstacle n. 障碍（物），妨碍

   [真题]Not having a good command of English can be a serious ______ preventing you from achieving your goals.

A) obstacle   B)  fault   C)  offense    D)  distress 

[A][CET-4:2004,1]

[译文]英语不好可能会严重阻碍你实现自己的目标

disintegration  n.传统价值观念的逐渐淡薄

mobility n. 激动，可动性

couple  vt. 连接，使成对 n..①一对，一双②两三（个），一些③夫妻，情侣

morality n. ①道德，（行为等的）道德性②德行，品行③道德观，道德规范

[真题]Many people think that the standards of public _____ have declined.

A) morality   B) rightness  C) awareness  D)  mentality

[A][CET-6:1996,6]

[译文]许多人认为公众的道德水准已经下降了。

sense n. ①感官，官能②感觉③判断力，见识④意义，意思 vt. 觉得，意识到

[真题]What he told us about the affair simply doesn’t make any ______,

A) sense  B)  idea    C) meaning    D)  significance

[A][CET-4:1993,1]

[译文]他跟我们说的那件是毫无意义。

[真题]They tossed your thoughts back and forth for over an hour, but still could not  make ______ of them.

A) impression   B)  comprehension  C) meaning   D) sense

[D][CET-6:1997,1]

[译文]他们把你的想法前前后后讨论了一个多小时，还是没有能弄明白。

deny vt. ①否认，不承认②拒绝给予，拒绝…的要求

[真题]That young man still denies ______ the fire behind the store.

A) to start  B) having started  C) start   D)  to have started

[B][CET-4:2001,1]

[译文]那个青年人仍然否认在店铺后面放过火。

[真题]He was determined that none of his children would be _______ an education.

A)  declined   B)  cancelled   C)  denied   D)  ceased

[C][CET-6:1992,1]

[译文]他决心不能让自己的任何一个孩子失学。

[真题]The police accused him of setting fire to the building but he denied _____ in the area on the night of the fire.

A) to be   B) to have been   C) having been  D) be

[C][CET-6:1996,1]

[译文]警方控告他对那幢建筑放火，但他否认失火当晚在现场。

minority n.①少数，少数派②少数民族

[真题]Most nurses are women ,but in the higher ranks of the medical profession women are in a _________.

A) scarcity   B) minority  C) minimum    D) shortage

[B][CET-6:1997,6]

[译文]大多数的护士是女性，但在医务界的高层阶层中妇女只占少数。

favor n. ①好感，喜爱，宠爱②赞同，支持③恩惠，善意的行为，好事 vt. ①赞同，喜爱，偏爱②有利于，有助于。

lessen v.变少，减少（某事物）

prejudice n. 偏见，成见  vt. ①使有偏见②对…不利，损害

reverse vt. ①撤销，推翻②使位置颠倒，使互换位置③使反向，使倒转  vi.方向，倒转 n. ①相反情况，对立面②反面，背面，后面③挫折，逆境  a.反向的，相反的，倒转的

counter n. ①柜台，柜台式长桌②筹码③计数器  vt. 对抗，反驳  ad.反方向地，对立地

 

【必背词组】

形容词与名词搭配：

moral standards 道德水准

average American 普通美国人

ordinary citizens 普通公民

moral climate 道德氛围

national consciousness 国民意识

traditional communities 传统社会

unmarried mother 未婚妈妈

higher moral standard 较高的道德水准

moral decline 道德水准的下降

动词与名词搭配：

capture the attention 吸引注意力

weaken the bonds 削弱关系

top the list 居于首位

lessen prejudice 减少歧视

动词与介词搭配：

deeply rooted in 深深扎根于

attributed to 归因于

unheard of 没听说

long for 渴望

动词与副词搭配：

look out for 关心照顾

名词与介词搭配：

greater emphasis on 更强调